Scott Hamilton.Photo: AP
Scott Hamilton’s life has been as dramatic as his figure skating routines. From his winning moments to his personal health crises, he’s publicly faced triumphs and tragedies, keeping a positive outlook through it all.Recently, he spoke to PEOPLEabout his choice not to treat his third brain tumor,saying he’s “totally at peace with not even looking at it again” unless he becomes symptomatic.Here, look back on Scott Hamilton’s ups and downs through the years.
Scott Hamilton’s life has been as dramatic as his figure skating routines. From his winning moments to his personal health crises, he’s publicly faced triumphs and tragedies, keeping a positive outlook through it all.
Recently, he spoke to PEOPLEabout his choice not to treat his third brain tumor,saying he’s “totally at peace with not even looking at it again” unless he becomes symptomatic.
Here, look back on Scott Hamilton’s ups and downs through the years.
01of 12Picture PerfectA young Scott Hamilton.APDiagnosed at an early age with Shwachman’s syndrome — a disorder that interferes with the body’s ability to digest food, thus impairing growth —Hamilton started skatingafter a false start in gymnastics when he was 9 years old. In 1983, at 24, he was a three-time national champion, en route to another world championship and an Olympic gold medal. (He’s pictured here in 1980.)
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Picture Perfect
A young Scott Hamilton.AP
Diagnosed at an early age with Shwachman’s syndrome — a disorder that interferes with the body’s ability to digest food, thus impairing growth —Hamilton started skatingafter a false start in gymnastics when he was 9 years old. In 1983, at 24, he was a three-time national champion, en route to another world championship and an Olympic gold medal. (He’s pictured here in 1980.)
02of 12Moving OnScott Hamilton.Focus on Sport/GettyHamiltondonated his gold medalfrom 1984 to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “I didn’t want the light to shine bright at the Olympics and then get dimmer every year after that,“he told PEOPLE in 1992.Though he continued to skate in exhibitions and in the Discover Card Stars on Ice throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s, he moved on to a career in broadcasting, commenting on ice skating for CBS.
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Moving On
Scott Hamilton.Focus on Sport/Getty
Hamiltondonated his gold medalfrom 1984 to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “I didn’t want the light to shine bright at the Olympics and then get dimmer every year after that,“he told PEOPLE in 1992.
Though he continued to skate in exhibitions and in the Discover Card Stars on Ice throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s, he moved on to a career in broadcasting, commenting on ice skating for CBS.
03of 12Full of FightScott Hamilton.APIn 1997, Hamilton — pictured here in 1993 —was diagnosedwith testicular cancer, which spread to his abdomen.Hamilton reactedwith his characteristic humor: “Oh, is that all?”he cracked. “I thought it was going to be something serious.”
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Full of Fight
Scott Hamilton.AP
In 1997, Hamilton — pictured here in 1993 —was diagnosedwith testicular cancer, which spread to his abdomen.Hamilton reactedwith his characteristic humor: “Oh, is that all?”he cracked. “I thought it was going to be something serious.”
04of 12A New RoutineScott Hamilton and wife Tracie.Star Max/APHamiltonretired from live skating in 2001, andmarried Tracie Robinson in 2002, two years after meeting her backstage at an ice show in Memphis and three months after he proposed to her on center ice following a cancer research benefit in Cleveland. Their first son, Aidan, was born in 2003
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A New Routine
Scott Hamilton and wife Tracie.Star Max/AP
Hamiltonretired from live skating in 2001, andmarried Tracie Robinson in 2002, two years after meeting her backstage at an ice show in Memphis and three months after he proposed to her on center ice following a cancer research benefit in Cleveland. Their first son, Aidan, was born in 2003
05of 12TriumphantScott Hamilton.Mark J. Terrill/APIn 2005, Hamilton was again confronted with the C-word.This time it was craniopharyngioma, a rare noncancerous tumor near his pituitary gland, that was threatening the 46-year-old. Hamilton underwent a treatment called a Gamma Knife, which virtually destroyed the tumor, though the cyst that surrounded it required months of monitoring before he was in the clear.
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Triumphant
Scott Hamilton.Mark J. Terrill/AP
In 2005, Hamilton was again confronted with the C-word.This time it was craniopharyngioma, a rare noncancerous tumor near his pituitary gland, that was threatening the 46-year-old. Hamilton underwent a treatment called a Gamma Knife, which virtually destroyed the tumor, though the cyst that surrounded it required months of monitoring before he was in the clear.
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Blessed Again
Scott Hamilton.Robert F. Bukaty/AP
07of 12The Worst LuckScott Hamilton.Idaho Statesman/Chris Butler/APDuring his 2009 brain surgery, doctors nicked an artery in Hamilton’s brain, causing an aneurysm that had to be removed days later, which resulted in the loss of two-thirds of the vision in his right eye. “He’s a hero to me in the way he handles adversity and his positive outlook on life, no matter the circumstances,“friend Brad Paisley told PEOPLE in 2010.
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The Worst Luck
Scott Hamilton.Idaho Statesman/Chris Butler/AP
During his 2009 brain surgery, doctors nicked an artery in Hamilton’s brain, causing an aneurysm that had to be removed days later, which resulted in the loss of two-thirds of the vision in his right eye. “He’s a hero to me in the way he handles adversity and his positive outlook on life, no matter the circumstances,“friend Brad Paisley told PEOPLE in 2010.
08of 12The ReturnScott Hamilton.Amy Sancetta/APPictured here in the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City,Hamilton made an “official” returnto the ice in 2009, at his annual Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative benefit.
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The Return
Scott Hamilton.Amy Sancetta/AP
Pictured here in the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City,Hamilton made an “official” returnto the ice in 2009, at his annual Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative benefit.
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New Lives
Scott Hamilton.Paul Morigi/Getty
10of 12Strength Beyond StrengthBrad Paisley and Scott Hamilton.Rick Diamond/GettyBrad Paisley presented Hamilton with the lifetime humanitarian award at the T.J. Martell Foundation 9th Annual Nashville Honors Gala.Speaking to PEOPLE around that time, Hamilton shared the good news: his tumor shrunk! “I was the recipient of a spectacular miracle,” he said, adding that he gave up sugar and other “toxic and unhealthy” food and drink. “I stayed with the program, eliminated all the unhealthy stuff and have been getting strong. I’m keeping an eye on it, and there’s no treatment needed at this time.”
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Strength Beyond Strength
Brad Paisley and Scott Hamilton.Rick Diamond/Getty
Brad Paisley presented Hamilton with the lifetime humanitarian award at the T.J. Martell Foundation 9th Annual Nashville Honors Gala.
Speaking to PEOPLE around that time, Hamilton shared the good news: his tumor shrunk! “I was the recipient of a spectacular miracle,” he said, adding that he gave up sugar and other “toxic and unhealthy” food and drink. “I stayed with the program, eliminated all the unhealthy stuff and have been getting strong. I’m keeping an eye on it, and there’s no treatment needed at this time.”
11of 12The Waiting GameScott Hamilton.Carrie SimonsIn a November 2017 chatwith PEOPLE, Hamilton said he’d find out in December if the tumor had decreased — or increased — in size. But “I’ve got too much to do every day to worry,” he said. “It will be fine no matter what it shows. I’m just trying to stay in my lane and do good things, and take advantage of the time that I have.”That time was packed: the star had a book due out the next February and joined NBC for the Olympics in South Korea that same month.
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The Waiting Game
Scott Hamilton.Carrie Simons
In a November 2017 chatwith PEOPLE, Hamilton said he’d find out in December if the tumor had decreased — or increased — in size. But “I’ve got too much to do every day to worry,” he said. “It will be fine no matter what it shows. I’m just trying to stay in my lane and do good things, and take advantage of the time that I have.”
That time was packed: the star had a book due out the next February and joined NBC for the Olympics in South Korea that same month.
12of 12What’s NextScott Hamilton.Kathryn Costello PhotographyThe next time Hamilton returned to get his tumor checked, the news wasn’t as positive.“It had grown,” the 65-year-oldtold PEOPLEin February 2024. “And then COVID hit and going into any kind of hospital situation was almost impossible. So in my spirit, in my inner being, I realized, I’m totally at peace with not even looking at it again unless I become symptomatic.““The ace I have up my sleeve is that now there is a targeted radiation therapy that will shrink the tumor,” he continued. “And in that, I can avoid a lot of other things like surgery and chemo. So I don’t know, I’m mostly trying to be in the moment and taking all the information and do the right thing when the time comes.”
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What’s Next
Scott Hamilton.Kathryn Costello Photography
Kathryn Costello Photography
The next time Hamilton returned to get his tumor checked, the news wasn’t as positive.
“It had grown,” the 65-year-oldtold PEOPLEin February 2024. “And then COVID hit and going into any kind of hospital situation was almost impossible. So in my spirit, in my inner being, I realized, I’m totally at peace with not even looking at it again unless I become symptomatic.”
“The ace I have up my sleeve is that now there is a targeted radiation therapy that will shrink the tumor,” he continued. “And in that, I can avoid a lot of other things like surgery and chemo. So I don’t know, I’m mostly trying to be in the moment and taking all the information and do the right thing when the time comes.”
source: people.com
